Improvement in ships  berths



AUNITED STATES.

JOHN EVANS, OF DENVER, COLORADO TERRITORY.

IMPROVEMEN'I IN SHIPS BERTHS.

S peciicaton forming part of Letters Patent No. 125,729, dated April 16, 1872.

Specification describing a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Supporting Beds,

`Couches, and Chairs in Steam-Ships and other vessels, invented by JOHN EVANS, of Denver, in the county of Arapahoe, Colorado.

The invention will be first fullydescribed and then clearly pointed out in the claim.

Figure l is a plan or top view of a bed supported by my improved apparatus. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line w a', Fig. l.

Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the drawing. j

j a a are two upright frames or standards, of

iron or other suitable material, which may be screwed or otherwise securely attached to the :door or other convenient part of the vessel. These standards form a convenient means for supporting my apparatus; but I may sometimes use brackets, attached to the sides of the room, or other suitable means of support. b is a metal or other frame, provided at its ends with trunnions or journals c, which support the said frame in the standards a. The said frame b, at or near its center, supports the box or case d, which is also provided with trunnions or journals e for this purpose. The length of the frame I) must be so adapted to that of the box or case that, without occupying unnecessary space, the latter will have room to swing freely in the said frame. This box or case, which is preferably made of wood, (although other materials maybe used, if found more eonvenient,) contains the bed; and it will be seen, by reference to Figs. 2 and 3, that the occupant of the same will be nearly level with the four points of suspension, and will, therefore, as the vessel rolls or pitches, simply rise and descend with very slight, if any, oscillating motion. The said case or box has projecting down from its bottom a ballast-holder, f, in which I place any required number of weights,

g. To e'ect the desired object-viz., the maintenance of the horizontal position of t-he bed without swinging the same below the points of suspension of thc apparatus-the weight ofthe ballast must be suiiicient to bring the center of gravity of the entire apparatus, with its occupant, considerably below the said points of suspension; and the proper amount of ballast to do this, without rendering the apparatus unnecessarily heavy, may be readily ascertained by adding to the ballast till the required stability of the apparatus is obtained. Then, throughout all the movements of the vessel in the roughest weather, the bed will remain horizont-al, or nearly so, and the occupant will enjoy a rest and relief which would otherwise be unattainable.

I am aware that tables and compasses have been adjusted on shipboard upon the same principle as that employed by Ine-namely, by hinge-joints at right angles to each other; but my object has been, while availing myself of this principle, to get a compact and simple device which would economize the space thatis now so important a matter on vessels and Steamers. I also provide for adjustable weights, by which, if a child or light person occupies the berth, some weight may be taken off; otherwise there would be an unnecessary swing and an unpleasant vibration.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is

The berth or bed supporter of a ship or steamer, consisting of the frame b, having trunnions c c resting in standards a a; the case d, having journals e e arranged in bearings upon the frame b; and the series of weights g, suspended, as and for the purpose set forth.

Witnesses: J OHN EVANS.

T. B. MosHER, GEO. W. MABEE. 

